Scenery handling apparatus



Oct. 3, 1967 e c. IZENOUR SCENERY HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 22, 1964 h rm .r W L 2 C mfi G Y B KN A TTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofiice 3,345,066 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 3,345,066 SCENERY HANDLINGAPPARATUS George C. lzenour, Alston Ave., New Haven, Conn. 06515 FiledJuly 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,386 12 Claims. (Cl. 272-43) The presentinvention relates to theatres, and particularly to apparatus forhandling scenery.

In a theatre the audience views scenery that is commonly suspended bylines extending upward over pulleys and laterally to apparatuswoff-stage for handling the scenery. The handling apparatus liftsunwanted scenery to a storage space well above the stage called theflies, and lowers selected scenery units to the stage. Over thecenturies, scenery has been counterbalanced by weights, and hand lineshave been used for operating the handling apparatus to raise or lowerthe scenery. In recent years motor operation has been introduced. In myU.S. Patent No. 2,942,879, FIG. 10 shows a conventional scenery handlingsystem, and that patent also discloses and claims a completely differentsystem that avoids counterweights entirely. The novel system in thatpatent has many unique advantages, and yet the earlier type is desirablewhere counterweights are acceptable.

A broad object of the present invention is to improve counterweight-typescenery handling apparatus.

Another important object of this invention resides in the provision of asimple mechanical means for trimming scenery-suspending lines so thatwhen the operating rneans reaches a limit, the lowermost edge of thescenery will be disposed at the stage level or at any other desiredviewing level.

The usual scenery unit is made in the form of a flat, that is, a woodenframe covered by canvas bearing the required painted images. In commonpractice a flat needs several lines, typically four lines, forsupporting its weight and avoiding excessive local loads, and forlocating the scenery unit at the desired place and facing in the desireddirection when lowered to viewing level.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a readilyadjustable multiple-line suspension system and a readily accessible andeasily operable means for individually adjusting multiple lines thatextend from the operating apparatus and a common counterweight to asingle scenery unit.

In achieving the foregoing and other objects of the invention, theillustrative embodiment described below in detail and shown in theannexed drawings involves an electric motor coupled to a closed-loopline so as to be operable in reverse directions. A counterweight issecured to this closed-loop line; and multiple lines extend from a flatover first and second stationary pulleys, then down and aroundrespective pulleys that carry the counterweight, and these lines thenextend to individual trimming clamps. Further, the trimming clamps areassociated with a line-length adjusting device. A singlelength-adjusting device is provided for serving many lines or groups oflines of several flats. Additionally, means is provided for maintainingorderly and readily available a reserve length of line at the side ofthe line clamp opposite the scenerycarrying length of line.

More particularly, one end of each line in the system described extendsfrom a point of attachment to a scenery unit, directly upward and over afirst stationary pulley, then laterally and over a second stationarypulley, then downward and around a pulley on the movable counterweightframe, upward and around a third fixed pulley, and through an individualline clamp. The reserve length of each line extending from each clampterminates at a permanently secured end, and a pulley-supported weightmaintains the reserve length of line as a moderately tensioned loop thatremains orderly, free of any tendency to become tangled with itself orwith adjacent reserve lengths of line.

The line-adjusting device is operable to grip an individual line and,when the clamp of that line is released, the adjusting device can shiftthe part of the line extending through the clamp so as to draw more lineinto the reserve loop or to release more line into the cable-suspendinglength of line. When the length and tension of a line has been adjusted,the clamp of that line is locked and the adjusting device is availablefor use on other lines.

With the foregoing suspension system, and with the mechanical means ofadjustment provided, it is an easy matter to distribute the loads amongthe lines of a group that extend to a single scenery unit, and a commoncounterweight can be used for that group of lines. Many other advantagesare also realized, as will appear. In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the front view of so much of a theatrestage as is concerned with the scenery and the scenery suspensionapparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of part of the apparatus in FIG. 1, drawn tolarger scale and with parts shown in section and certain portions brokenaway; and

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged details of the apparatus in FIGS. 1 and2, shown partly in section and drawn to enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, a stage is shown including a floor 10, anoverhead catwalk 12, overhead beams 14, suspended panels or flats 16,and suspension apparatus 18 for supporting flats 16 and for raising andlowering such flats from the level of floor 10 of the stage. The sceneryrepresented by the flats is in the View of the audience when at stagelevel, and the flats can be lifted by apparatus 18 to the flies, wellabove the stage and out of view of the audience.

The multi-section flat 16 is supported by a group of lines Zita, 26b,20c and 20d. These lines extend vertically to pulleys 22 that areattached to portions of beams 14 directly above the points of flats 16to which lines 20 are secured. Flat section 16a is parallel to the frontof the stage. Lines 20a and 20b to the upper corners of section 16aextend about respective pulleys 22 that are mounted on a line parallelto the front of the stage. Flat sections 16b and'16c are hinged togetherand to section 16a, and are supported by lines 20b, 20c and 20a. Thepulleys 22 that carry the latter two lines are spaced farther fromthefront of the stage than are the pulleys that carry lines 20a and 20b.Beams 14 are directly above gaps 12a between confronting channels 12bwhich form parts of the catwalk 12.

A frame 24 at the extreme left of the stage is carried by I-beams 25that extend from the front to the rear of the stage. Frames 24 carry aseries of caster-mounted pulleys 26 (see also FIG. 3), there being onepulley 26 for each of the group of lines 20. As shown in FIG. 3, pulley26 includes its own shaft 26a about which the pulley rotates and, offsetfrom the axis of shaft 26a is a pivot 26b in a socket 260 secured to abracket 24: of frame 24. There is one bracket 24a for each of thepulleys 26, so that frame 24 and its brackets resemble a step-ladder.Frames 24 are at a level that is below beams 14 but above catwalk 12,and consequently lines 20 extend at a small angle upward from pulleys 26toward pulleys 22. The latter pulleys are also caster-mounted, so thatthese pulleys align themselves with the length of line extending fromeach pulley 22 to the companion pulley 26. Lines 20 extend verticallydownward from pulleys 26 around a counterweight pulley 28 that isrotatably mounted in counterweight frame 30. Pulley 28 advantageouslyin:

cludes four individually rotatable coaxial parts. The

i) counterweight frame includes a pair of vertical bars 30a, top andbottom frame members 3% and 300, and a stack of an appropriate number ofweights 30d for counterbalancing the weight of the flat 16. 7

Lines 20 extend from counterweight pulley 28 upward and around a smallpulley 32 carried by framework 33 on beams 25, and around another pulley34 mounted on a vertical bar or hanger 36 to a lock or cable clamp 38(see FIG. 4) which is also mounted on hanger 36. An individual clamp 38is provided for each one of the lines 20. Below clamps 38, lines 20extend around a further pulley 40 that is suitably supported at thebottom of hanger 36. Downward loops of lines 20a, b, c and d are heldtaut by small Weights 42 carried by pulleys 44, the loops of lines 20extending to a beam 46 to which the lines are secured. Beam 46 iscarried by a series of hangers 48 depending from a channel 12b of thecatwalk. A further catwalk 46b extends from beam 46 to another beam 46a,for personnel who are to operate clamps 38 and tension adjuster 70, tobe described.

A line 50 is fixed to counterweight frame 30 and extends vertically overa large-diameter freely rotatable pulley 52 that is coaxial with pulley32; and line 59 extends downward to a turnbuckle 54 and to chain 56. Thelatter extends around a sprocket 53 and upWard to a line that isattached to counterweight frame 30. Line 50, chain 56 and line 60constitute a closed loop which extends around sprocket 58 and pulley 52.Inasmuch as the movable lengths of lines 20 extend down and aroundcounterweight pulley 28, the system is balanced by making weights 30dsubstantially twice the weight of scenery unit 16. A motor 62 operatesreduction gearing 64 for operating sprocket 58. Turnbuckle 54 tensionsthe loop 50, 56, 60. Operation of motor 62 in one direction or theopposite raises or lowers the scenery.

A screen 66 protects personnel working on the stage; and a screen 68that is suspended between beams 46 and 46a provides protection againstthe possibility of weights 42 falling, in the event of any of the lines20 breaking.

Along hangers 36 directly below locks or clamps 38 is a tension adjuster70 (FIG. 5). This tensioner includes a lever 70a mounted for swinging ina vertical plane, about a horizontal axis formed by a slotted cylinderor channel 72 that is secured by member 74 to hangers 36. A cylindricalplug 70b to which lever 70a is attached is rotatable in channel 72, andis axially slidable along channel 72. A rubber-faced eccentric steelroller 700 is carried by bracket 70d on lever 70a at a point betweenplug 70b and the handle portion 70a of lever 70a. Lever 70aadvantageously is rubber-faced opposite eccentric 76. Bracket 70dextends across Only one side of the eccentric, so that at the other sideof the eccentric there is free access to the space between eccentric 70cand lever 70a for admitting a line 20.

Clamp 38 (FIG. 4) includes a fixed steel plate 38a, a movably mountedplate 38b, a pair of confronting rubber liners 38c bonded to plates 38aand 38b, and a lever 38d having an eccentric portion 38:: that bearsagainst plate 38b. Lever 38d is pivoted in a bolt 38 that is fixed tothe support of plate 38a.

A pair of limit switches 72 and 74 are operable by a corresponding pairof blocks 76 and 78 on chain 56. Block 76 operates switch 72 tointerrupt power to motor 62 when the scenery carried by lines 20 hasbeen lifted into the flies for storage; and block 78 operates switch 74to interrupt power to motor 62 and thereby arrest the scenery carried bylines 20 when it has been lowered to stage level. Suitable reversingswitches, a brake, and auxiliary speed-control switches for motor 62 areincluded in a motor control circuit (not shown) such as that in myPatent No. 2,942,879 mentioned above. Significantly, the limit stopsetc. identified with the motor need no attention or adjustment afterinitial installation, since lines 20 are individually adjustable, asalready indicated. When scenery is to be hung, motor 62 is operateduntil the lower limit switch 74 is activated. Lines 20 are then securedto flats 16a, 16b, 160, etc.; pulleys 22 are secured to parts of beams14 directly overhead, and lines 20 are pulled taut manually throughindividually released camps 38. At this time the flats rest directly onthe stage. The scenery should preferably clear the stage by a smallamount or, in any event, the weight of the scenery should be carried bylines 20 to avoid bumping subsequently when the scenery is lowered. Tothis end, tension adjuster 70 is operated as follows. Lever 70a israised as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5 and line 20 is moved into thespace between eccentric 70c and the tensioning lever. Slight lowering oflever 70a causes eccentric 700 to rotate and grip line 20 against lever70a. Clamp 38 related to the line 28 held by tensioner 7G is thenreleased. Further depression of lever 70a tensions line 20, and evenraises the part of scenery unit 16 to which that line it attached. Afterthe desired tension is established, clamp 38 is closed on the adjustedline 20. Pulling on the part of line 20 depending from eccentric 70creleases the eccentric so the line can be removed. Tension adjuster '70is then moved into line with the clamp 38 of another line 20 to beadjusted. If the scenery is to be elevated above the stage, it isreadily possible to grip and pull line 20 with tensioner '70, thenoperate clamp 38 and release the tensioner, then raise lever 70a andonce again grip line 20, pulling line 20 a step at a time.

There is one lock or clamp 38 for each line 20. However only onetensioner 70 is provided for a large number of lines 20. Not only cantensioner 70 serve lines 20 26b, 20c, 2001 that carry scenery unit 16,but tensioner 70 can also serve other groups of lines. It will beunderstood that other flats are carried by additional groups of lineshaving their respective motor drives, supporting lines, etc., that aresuitably located. Additional flat-carrying lines and tensioning andoperating systems (not shown) are located along the left-hand side ofstage 10, at various positions behind the system 18 illustrated. Asecond frame 24' (FIG. 1) designates the location of a second suchsystem.

The nature of tension adjuster 70 and its operation have been explainedin some detail; but although this tensioner is exemplary, it isnonetheless susceptible of a latitude of modification and substitution.For example, a portable motor-powered tensioner is a contemplatedsubstitute.

Among the advantages of the foregoing apparatus are coordinatedoperation of the groups of lines that carry a scenery unit; individualadjustment of the lines with equalized or properly distributed loadsamong the lines; power operation of the operating apparatus betweenlimits controlled electrically, without dependence on extended controlcircuit wiring; and installation of the drive motor at a location belowstage where any motor noise that may develop cannot interfere with theperformance on stage.

Various modifications and substitutions in the described apparatus arecontemplated, as will be evident to those skilled in the art, andtherefore the invention should be construed broadly in accordance withits full spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Scenery handling apparatus for operating a plurality of lines securedto a unit of scenery, where said lines extend vertically from thescenery unit and laterally to the handling apparatus, said apparatusincluding a displaceable unit having a pulley, guiding means for saidlines located above said pulley and disposed along the lines between oneside of said pulley and the unit of scenery, supporting and individuallyadjustable securing means for the portions of said lines extending fromthe opposite side of said pulley, and means to reversibly operate saiddisplaceable unit for lifting and lowering the scenery unit alternately,said supporting and securing means including a stationary clampindividual to each of said lines for locking its related line inadjustment, and means, cooperable with each of said lines and operableeven while each said line is tensioned by a scenery unit for adjustingthe point along the length of each line that is engageable by itsrelated clamp, the adjusting means being operable on one of said lineswhile the clamp related to that line is released.

2. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance With claim 1, wherein saidadjusting means includes a lever means operable in a vertical arc andhaving a line clamp thereon, said lever means and its line clamp beingoperable to adjust a line when the individual clamp of that line hasbeen released.

3. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidlever means is mounted to be laterally movable into operative relationwith each of said lines adjacent the individual clamps thereof.

4. Apparatus for handling scenery above a stage, including plural linesfor suspending a scenery unit, a first group of pulley for said lines,respectively, directly above points of securement of said lines to thescenery unit, a second group of pulleys for said lines disposed aboveand lateral of the stage, and operating means for said lines including acounterweight unit having a pulley below said second group of pulleys,means for operating said counterweight unit up and down to lower andlift the scenery unit alternately, supporting and individuallyadjustable securing means for the lengths of said lines at the side ofthe counterweight unit remote from the scenery unit, said supporting andsecuring means including an individual lock for each line, said linesextending from a scenery unit successively over the first and secondgroups of pulleys, down and around the counterweight pulley, and upwardto and beyond said supporting and securing means, and means operable toadjust said lines individually while the corresponding line locksthereof are released.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further including means fixedlysecuring the ends of said lines remote from the scenery-unit endsthereof, and means individually tensioning the portions of said linesbetween said line locks and said remote ends of said lines.

6. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein asingle said adjusting means is mounted for cooperating successively witha plurality of said lines individually.

7. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidadjusting means includes a lever means operable about a fulcrum in anare long one of said lines to be adjusted, and means for securing theline to be adjusted to a part of the lever means spaced from thefulcrum.

8. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 7, including arail extending across multiple lines to be adjusted and means formounting said lever means movably along said rail for carrying the levermeans into cooperation with any selected one of plural lines.

9. Apparatus for handling a scenery unit above a stage, including plurallines for suspending a scenery unit, a first group of individual pulleysfor said lines, respectively,

and means for mounting said first group of pulleys at various locationsfore-and-aft and laterally above the stage at points directly abovepoints of securement of said lines to the scenery unit, a second groupof individually rotatable pulleys for said lines, respectively, spacedhori Zontally from the first group of pulleys and disposed above theouter limits of the stage, operating means for said lines including avertically operable pulley unit having an individual pulley for each ofsaid lines, means for operating said pulley unit up and down to lowerand lift the scenery =unit alternately, and individually adjustablesecuring means for the portions of said lines at the side of said pulleyunit remote from the scenery unit, said lines extending from a sceneryunit successively over the first and second groups of pulleys, reverselyaround the individual pulleys of the pulley unit, and thence to saidsecuring means.

10. Apparatus for handling a scenery unit above a stage, includingplural lines for suspending a scenery unit, a first group ofcaster-mounted pulleys for said lines, respectively, and means formounting said first group of pulleys at various locations fore-and-aftand laterally above the stage at points directly above points ofsecurement of said lines to the scenery unit, a second group ofcaster-mounted pulleys individual to said lines, respectively, forautomatic alignment therewith disposed above and lateral of the stage,and operating means for said lines including a vertically operablepulley unit below said second group of pulleys, said pulley unitincluding an individually rotatable pulley for each of said lines,reversible motor means for operating said pulley unit up and down tolower and lift the scenery unit alternately, and individually adjustablesecuring means for the ends of said lines remote from the scenery unit,said lines extending from a scenery unit successively over the first andsecond groups of pulleys, down and around the pulleys of said pulleyunit, and upward to said securing means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the pulleys ofthe first and second groups are individually caster-mounted forself-alignment of a pulley of the first group and a pulley of the secondgroup with a line extending therebetween.

12. Apparatus for handling a scenery unit in accordance with claim 9,wherein said individually adjustable securing means includes means forproducing lengthwise adjustment of the line and for retaining the linein its adjustment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,090 10/ 1898 Conquest 27224766,238 8/ 1904 Garrett 272-22 X 2,942,879 6/ 1960 Izenour 272-22FOREIGN PATENTS 496,799 4/1930 Germany. 552,725 6/ 1932 Germany.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

1. SCENERY HANDLING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A PLURALITY OF LINES SECUREDTO A UNIT OF SCENERY, WHERE SAID LINES EXTEND VERTICALLY FROM THESCENERY UNIT AND LATERALLY TO THE HANDLING APPARATUS, SAID APPARAATUSINCLUDING A DISPLACEABLE UNIT HAVING A PULLEY, GUIDING MEANS FOR SAIDLINES LOCATED ABOVE SAID PULLEY AND DISPOSED ALONG THE LINES BETWEEN ONESIDE OF SAID PULLEY AND THE UNIT OF SCENERY, SUPPORTING AND INDIVIDUALLYADJUSTABLE SECURING MEANS FOR THE PORTIONS OF SAID LINES EXTENDING FROMTHE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PULLEY, AND MEANS TO REVERSIBLY OPERATE SAIDDISPLACEABLE UNIT FOR LIFTING AND LOWERING THE SECENERY UNITALTERNATELY, AND SUPPORTING AND SECURING MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARYCLAMP INDIVIDUAL TO EACH OF SAID LINES FOR LOCKING ITS RELATED LINE INADJUSTMENT, AND MEANS, COOPERABLE WITH EACH OF SAID LINES AND OPERABLEEVEN WHILE EACH SAID LINE IS TENSIONED BY A SCENERY UNIT FOR ADJUSTINGTHE POINT ALONG THE LENGTH OF EACH LINE THAT IS ENGAGEABLE BY ITSRELATED CLAMP, THE ADJUSTING MEANS BEING OPERABLE ON ONE OF SAID LINESWHILE THE CLAMP RELATED TO THAT LINE IS RELEASED.